Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

News

Rafa Benitez gets green light at last to bring in three Newcastle United signings this week – Report

6 years ago
Share

Sunday morning brings news that Rafa Benitez has been backed to bring in three essential signings this week.

With only around 100 hours of the summer transfer window remaining, it is claimed the manager eventually got the green light after speaking out following the Braga match.

The Chronicle say that their information is that at last Mike Ashley and his minions accepted that the squad does need this kind of strengthening before 5pm on Thursday comes around.

The three positions that will be filled according to the press claims, are at left-back, centre-back and centre-forward.

However, this is no revolutionary breakthrough, as the report adds that Rafa will be backed to get three signings BUT they will still have to be funded by minimal transfer funds, as has previously been made clear to him.

On Saturday, Dwight Gayle was left out of the squad for the friendly against Augsburg, whilst Salomon Rondon was left out of the 18 man West Brom squad that lost their opening Championship fixture to Bolton yesterday.

That transfer saga looks to be almost finalised, which would see Rondon arriving as that new striker but at minimal or even no cost in terms of transfer fee, with Gayle going the other way.

As for the two claimed defensive signings, yesterday the media in France said that Newcastle had bid an initial £6m for Stanley N’Soki with PSG wanting £9m. The reports did indicate that another £4m of additional payments was included in the NUFC offer.

The 19 year old can play both centre-back or left-back, which would suit Rafa’s preference for versatility.

Hopefully, if N’Soki does indeed sign, that doesn’t then see Mike Ashley telling Rafa he now has his new centre-back AND left-back!

Difficult to see N’Soki as an instant answer in the middle of defence so you assume that Rafa Benitez must be looking at a more experienced player who could play alongside Lascelles, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Newcastle didn’t end up getting in a loan player.

A swap, a cheap £6m on N’Soki, and a loan, that kind of trio of signings is most definitely what we have come to expect under Mike Ashley’s ‘tight financial framework’, which translates to….spending as little as possible.

The Chronicle:

Rafa Benitez has had his request for more players approved by the powers that be at Newcastle United – providing he works within the tight financial framework at St James’ Park.

The Toon chief should be handed a striker, a left-back and a centre-back before the deadline on August 9.’

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks